Education Authority (Northern Ireland)
Project Management Office (PMO) Manager
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Project Management Office (PMO) Manager
Job Description: Project Management Office (PMO) Manager
Job Title
Project Management Office (PMO) Manager
Service Area
EnAble Programme
Reports To
EnAble Programme Director
About the Role
The Senior Manager PMO will support the development and delivery of multiple complex work-streams within the EnAble Programme. Responsibilities include:
- Fostering a collaborative approach across programme and project teams
- Ensuring alignment with EnAble Programme Plan and standard processes
- Acting as the primary contact for stakeholders, Heads of Service, and external suppliers
- Guiding workstreams against timelines, budgets, and schedules
- Leading, managing, and developing the PMO team and coordinating cross-workstream priorities
EnAble Programme Background
The EnAble Programme aims to replace EA One, the Education Authority’s (EA) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, with a modern, scalable, and data-driven platform supporting NI’s education sector, including:
- Finance, procurement, HR, and payroll for 66,000 staff
- Critical monthly transactions (payroll, invoices, leave, expenses)
- Transitioning from Oracle E-Business Suite (approaching end-of-life)
Key objective: Replacement solution by March 2032, enabling system modernisation, user experience improvements, and resilience enhancements.
Job Purpose
The PMO Manager will:
- Lead programme activities to achieve objectives within time/ budget constraints
- Manage the PMO team and deliver multiple workstreams across core EA functions
- Identify and mitigate programme risks/issues and consult with stakeholders
- Facilitate alignment with strategic priorities
- Drive on-time, on-budget delivery against quality parameters
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Main Responsibilities
EnAble Programme of Work
- Coordinate progression reports, RAID logs and procurement pipelines
- Oversee multiple workstreams within defined timescales and budgets
- Report programmatic status to the EnAble Programme Board
- Partner with Workstream Leaders on implementation challenges
PMO Management
- Plan workstream deliveries, monitor costs, and ensure quality assurance
- Report milestones and schedule progress to Programme Board
- Lead PMO team performance reviews
Stakeholder and Contractor Management
- Engage appointees, contractors and internal/external stakeholders
- Facilitate governance discussions and deliver programme documentation
Risk Management
- Proactively identify, escalate and mitigate programme risks/issues
- Report risks to Programme Board for informed decision-making
Person Specification
Notes to Applicants
Primary assessment relies on applications demonstrating alignment with essential criteria. Provisional shortlisting will use these, with interview assessments incorporating additional EA values.
Vehicle access is an essential criterion (to be demonstrated via application).
Section 1: Essential Experience
-
Preferred Qualification & Experience:
- A relevant bachelor’s degree (or Level 6 equivalent) and 3+ years managing a PMO/programme office in a complex environment or
- 5+ years managing a PMO across multiple business areas
-
Demonstrable Competencies:
- Activities covered: Reports, dashboards, governance papers, stakeholder engagement, risk, finance, procurement oversight
- Evidence required: Quality assurance methodologies and practical application
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Shortlisting: Applicants-only (via submission of evidence)
Section 2: Essential Abilities
We look for behaviour aligned with our EA Game Changer Model. Applicants should demonstrate:
- Leadership: Setting direction across PMO teams and managing competing priorities
- Planning: Assessing timelines, managing dependencies and mitigating delays
- Stakeholder communication: Presenting complex information clearly to senior levels
- Collaboration: Influencing stakeholders to ensure alignment and issue resolution
Assessment: Interview presentations (and verifiable index systems examples)
Section 3: Desirable Additional Criteria
-
Programme-Specific Expertise
- ERP/digital transformation/business change outcomes
-
Professional Qualifications
- PRINCE2, MSP, AgilePM, P3O or equivalent
Equality Legislation
Uphold Section 75 (Northern Ireland Act 1998) principles: good relations & equality of opportunity intentionally integrated into role performance.
Additional Requirements
- Vehicle requirements: Must either provide or document access to a business-compliant vehicle/alternative transport or pre-employment justification.
- Security: Where relevant, candidates will undergo enhanced criminal disclosures (payment cost to applicant).
Benefits: Excellence in education, equal opportunity, and professional development opportunities.
The role is subject to governance; additional duties may arise.
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